Blower scroll

ABSTRACT

A blower scroll comprising a base and a wall extending from an outer edge of the base. The base may include an outlet formed in the base a diverting device extending about at least a portion of the outlet. The diverting device may obstruct the flow of water droplets in the blower scroll into the outlet.

The present application claims benefit of priority to U.S. ProvisionalApplication ser. no. 60/902,177, filed Feb. 20, 2007, the entirecontents of which is incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND

The present application relates generally to the field of heatingventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. In particular, thepresent application relates to a blower scroll for use with a HVACsystem.

In some vehicle HVAC systems, a blower scroll may be used to house animpeller such as a blower wheel that is coupled to a blower motor. Insome applications, the blower motor may be mounted below the blowerscroll in a generally vertical orientation. The blower motor powers theblower wheel which pushes air to the periphery of the blower scroll. Theair may then travel along the periphery to a discharge port where theair is then directed to an evaporator and/or heater core. The air isheated or cooled and then used to control the cabin temperature of thevehicle.

In some of these systems, the blower scroll has a base surface. The basemay be provided with an outlet or opening that is coupled to a channel.The outlet and channel directs a portion of the air moved by the blowerwheel to the blower motor mounted below the blower scroll. The air isthen circulated around or otherwise used to cool the blower motor.

In vehicle applications, in the airflow pass from the outside to theblower water is not separated from the air. Accordingly, water can bepulled into the blower scroll when the blower motor is running. This isparticularly problematic when a vehicle is traveling in rain, on wetpavement, or when passing through a carwash. The introduction of waterinto the blower scroll can be compounded when the vehicle is travelingat faster speeds.

The water droplets taken into the blower scroll intake may enter theoutlet formed in the blower scroll base. In applications where theoutlet leads downward to the blower motor, gravity may pull the waterdroplets down the channel to the blower motor. The water may accumulateand cause corrosion or electrical problems or mechanical failure of themotor's bearings shortening the useful life of the blower motor.

Accordingly, it would be desirable to provide a blower scroll capable oflimiting the introduction of water to the blower motor. It would also bedesirable to provide an HVAC system including such a blower scroll.

SUMMARY

One embodiment relates to a blower scroll comprising a base and a wallextending from an outer edge of the base. The base may include an outletformed in the base and a diverting device extending about at least aportion of the outlet. The diverting device may obstruct the flow ofwater droplets in the blower scroll into the outlet.

Another embodiment relates to an HVAC system comprising a blower scrollincluding a base and a wall extending from an outer edge of the base.The base may include an outlet formed in the base and a diverting deviceextending about at least a portion of the outlet. The diverting devicemay obstruct the flow of water droplets in the blower scroll into theoutlet.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a photograph of a portion of a vehicle HVAC system.

FIG. 2 is a photograph of a portion of the vehicle HVAC system of FIG. 1taken from a side of the HVAC system.

FIG. 3 is a photograph of a portion of the vehicle HVAC system of FIG. 1taken from below the HVAC system.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a blower scroll.

FIG. 5 is a photograph of a blower scroll.

FIG. 6 is a photograph of the blower scroll of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a photograph of a blower scroll.

FIG. 8 is a photograph of the blower scroll of FIG. 7.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a blower scroll.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, a vehicle HVAC system may include a blower motorhousing containing a blower motor and a blower scroll mounted above theblower motor housing. The blower motor powers the blower wheel. Air isdrawn into an air inlet by the blower wheel located in the blower scrolland pushed through the blower scroll discharge. A motor cooling channelis provided that allows for a portion of the air drawn into the blowerscroll to pass down to the blower motor housing where the air cools theblower motor.

FIG. 4 illustrates a blower scroll for a vehicle HVAC system. The blowerscroll includes a blower scroll base, and a blower scroll wall. The walland the base may form a right angle. In other embodiments the wall andbase may form an obtuse angle where the base angles downward and/or thewall angles outward at the top of the wall. An opening is provided inthe blower scroll base where air can enter the blower motor coolingchannel and be directed down to the blower motor housing. The arrowsshow the general direction of airflow within the blower scroll andthrough the blower scroll discharge. After exiting the blower scroll,the air may be directed to an evaporator and/or a heating core to coolor heat the air before it enters the passenger cabin of the vehicle.

In the event that water droplets are contained in the air drawn into theblower scroll, the water droplets may be pushed to the periphery of theblower scroll with the airflow. When passing the blower motor coolingchannel opening, a portion of the water droplets may enter the blowermotor cooling channel. These droplets may then travel to the blowermotor where water may increase corrosion of blower motor components, orinterfere with the electronic controls for the blower motor, or causemechanical failure of the blower motor's bearings.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show a blower scroll configured to reduce introduction ofwater to the motor cooling channel. The blower scroll base includes adiverting rib that is raised relative to the base and diverts waterdroplets that would otherwise pass just above the opening to the motorcooling channel to either side of the opening. A channel rib may also beprovided closer to the opening and also serves to divert water away fromthe channel opening. First and second openings are provided between thediverting rib and the channel rib to allow water droplets that pass overthe diverting rib to be directed to either side of the channel rib. Thechannel rib extends around the blower motor channel opening on threesides. The water droplets then exit the blower scroll through the blowerscroll discharge and avoid the blower motor.

FIGS. 7 and 8 show another blower scroll having a diverting rib and achannel rib for diverting water away from the blower motor coolingchannel. In this embodiment, a single opening is provided between thediverting rib and the channel rib. Water accumulating between thediverting rib and the channel rib is directed past the opening andaround the blower motor cooling channel opening. A portion of the waterdiverted by the diverting rib may pass around the blower motor coolingchannel opening along a side opposite the opening.

FIG. 9 shows another embodiment of the blower scroll. The blower scrollincludes a blower scroll base and a blower scroll wall for containing ablower wheel and directing airflow to the blower scroll outlet. Theblower scroll base includes a blower motor channel opening for allowinga portion of the air flow to travel down the blower motor coolingchannel to the blower motor housing. The blower scroll base is providedwith a system of channels recessed into the surface of the blower scrollbase for diverting the flow of water droplets around the blower motorchannel opening.

In some embodiments, a primary channel is placed up stream of the blowermotor cooling channel opening (defined by the direction of air flow).The primary channel leads to the first bypass channel and is connectedto a second bypass channel by a linking channel. The first bypasschannel passes around the blower motor cooling channel opening along aside proximate to the blower scroll wall. The second bypass channelpasses proximate to the inside edge of the blower scroll base. Becauseof the dynamics of the blower scroll, a larger quantity of water isdirected proximate to the blower scroll wall. Accordingly, the firstbypass channel may be made wider than the second bypass channel toprovided a larger crossectional area. A secondary channel may beprovided between the primary channel and the blower motor coolingchannel opening. The secondary channel may link the first bypass channeland the second bypass channel to allow water droplets not diverted bythe primary channel to be diverted around the blower motor coolingchannel opening.

Although the foregoing has been described with reference to exemplaryembodiments, workers skilled in the art will recognize that changes maybe made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scopethereof For example, although different example embodiments may havebeen described as including one or more features providing one or morebenefits, it is contemplated that the described features may beinterchanged with one another or alternatively be combined with oneanother in the described example embodiments or in other alternativeembodiments. The present subject matter described with reference to theexample embodiments and set forth in the following claims is manifestlyintended to be as broad as possible. For example, unless specificallyotherwise noted, the claims reciting a single particular element alsoencompass a plurality of such particular elements. Many other changesand modifications may be made to the present invention without departingfrom the spirit thereof. The scope of these and other changes willbecome apparent from the appended claims. The steps of the methodsdescribed herein may be varied, and carried out in different sequences.

1. A blower scroll comprising: a base; a wall extending from an outeredge of the base; an outlet formed in the base; and a diverting deviceextending about at least a portion of the outlet.
 2. The blower scrollof claim 1, wherein the diverting device comprises a raised rib.
 3. Theblower scroll of claim 1, wherein the diverting device comprises achannel.
 4. An HVAC system for a vehicle comprising the blower scroll ofclaim 1.